Modular solar cell and solar cell array

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include modular solar power cells, arrays, and power management systems for use in satellite systems and constellations. In one embodiment, a solar cell module can include: a module substrate including a high-emissivity side and a mounting side; a power management circuit mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate; a battery arranged adjacent to the power management circuit; a solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the battery and including an embedded battery heater; and a solar cell mounted directly to the solar cell substrate and connected to the battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solar cell module comprising:
 a module substrate partially connected to a solar cell on a first side and partially connected to high-emissivity material on a second side, the second side being a high-emissivity side, wherein 
 the module substrate comprising a mounting side on a plane perpendicular to the first side and the second side, and is configured to transfer heat from the solar cell to an adjacent surface or space by way of the high-emissivity material; 
 a power management circuit mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate; 
 a battery arranged adjacent to the power management circuit; 
 a solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the battery and comprising an embedded battery heater; and 
 a surface of the solar cell mounted directly to the solar cell substrate and connected to the battery, wherein 
 the power management circuit, the battery, and the solar cell substrate are mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate and are between the high-emissivity material and the surface of the solar cell. 
 
     
     
       2. The solar cell module of  claim 1 , wherein the module substrate comprises aluminum. 
     
     
       3. The solar cell module of  claim 2 , wherein the module substrate encloses the power management circuit, the battery, and the solar cell substrate. 
     
     
       4. The solar cell module of  claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a lithium ion solid state battery. 
     
     
       5. The solar cell module of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell comprises an inverted metamorphic solar cell. 
     
     
       6. The solar cell module of  claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit comprises a power management circuit substrate comprising a polyamide film. 
     
     
       7. The solar cell module of  claim 6 , wherein the power management circuit comprises a battery charge control module, a solar cell monitoring module, and a solar cell management module. 
     
     
       8. The solar cell module of  claim 7 , wherein the power management circuit further comprises a communications module, and wherein the communications module is configured to communicate with a space vehicle flight controller. 
     
     
       9. The solar cell module of  claim 1 , wherein the high emissivity side of the module substrate is arranged adjacent a space vehicle chassis. 
     
     
       10. A modular solar cell array comprising:
 a first solar cell module comprising:
 a first module substrate partially connected to a solar cell on a first side and partially connected to high-emissivity material on a second side, the second side being a high-emissivity side, wherein 
 the first module substrate comprising a mounting side on a plane perpendicular to the first side and the second side; 
 a first power management circuit mounted to the first mounting side of the first module substrate; 
 a first battery arranged adjacent to the first power management circuit; 
 a first solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the first battery and comprising a first embedded battery heater; and 
 a surface of the first solar cell mounted directly to the first solar cell substrate and connected to the first battery, wherein 
 the first power management circuit, the first battery, and the first solar cell substrate are mounted to the mounting side of the first module substrate and are between the high-emissivity material and the surface of the first solar cell; 
 
 a second solar cell module comprising:
 a second module substrate partially connected to a solar cell on a first side and partially connected to high-emissivity material on a second side, the second side being a high-emissivity side, wherein 
 the second module substrate comprising a mounting side on a plane perpendicular to the first side and the second side, and is configured to transfer heat from the solar cell to an adjacent surface or space by way of the high-emissivity material; 
 a second power management circuit mounted to the second mounting side of the second module substrate; 
 a second battery arranged adjacent to the second power management circuit; 
 a second solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the second battery and comprising a second embedded battery heater; and 
 a surface of the second solar cell mounted directly to the second solar cell substrate and connected to the second battery, wherein 
 the second power management circuit, the second battery, and the second solar cell substrate are mounted to the mounting side of the second module substrate and are between the high-emissivity material and the surface of the second solar cell; 
 
 wherein the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module are independently connected to a space vehicle flight controller. 
 
     
     
       11. The modular solar cell array of  claim 10 , wherein both the first module substrate and the second module substrate are separate and unitary structures. 
     
     
       12. The modular solar cell array of  claim 10 , wherein the first module substrate and the second module substrate comprise independently connectable structures. 
     
     
       13. The modular solar cell array of  claim 10 , wherein the first module substrate comprises aluminum and the second module substrate comprises aluminum. 
     
     
       14. The modular solar cell array of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first module substrate encloses the first power management circuit, the first battery, and the first solar cell substrate; and 
 the second module substrate encloses the second power management circuit, the second battery, and the second solar cell substrate. 
 
     
     
       15. The modular solar cell array of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first power management circuit comprises a first battery charge control module, a first solar cell monitoring module, and a first solar cell management module; and 
 the second power management circuit comprises a second battery charge control module, a second solar cell monitoring module, and a second solar cell management module. 
 
     
     
       16. The modular solar cell array of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first power management circuit further comprises a first communications module, and wherein the first communications module is configured to communicate with the space vehicle flight controller; and 
 the second power management circuit further comprises a second communications module, and wherein the second communications module is configured to communicate with the space vehicle flight controller. 
 
     
     
       17. The modular solar cell array of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first battery comprises a lithium ion solid state battery; and 
 the second battery comprises a lithium ion solid state battery. 
 
     
     
       18. The modular solar cell array of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first solar cell comprises an inverted metamorphic solar cell; and 
 the second solar cell comprises an inverted metamorphic solar cell. 
 
     
     
       19. A modular solar cell system comprising:
 a solar cell module comprising:
 a module substrate partially connected to a solar cell on a first side and partially connected to high-emissivity material on a second side, the second side being a high-emissivity side, wherein 
 the module substrate comprising a mounting side on a plane perpendicular to the first side and the second side, and is configured to transfer heat from the solar cell to an adjacent surface or space by way of the high-emissivity material; 
 a power management circuit mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate and comprising a communications module; 
 a battery arranged adjacent to the power management circuit; 
 a solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the battery and comprising an embedded battery heater; and 
 a surface of the solar cell mounted directly to the solar cell substrate and connected to the battery, wherein 
 the power management circuit, the battery, and the solar cell substrate are mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate and are between the high-emissivity material and the surface of the solar cell; 
 
 a space vehicle flight controller arranged in a space vehicle and configured to:
 communicate with the communications module of the power management circuit; and 
 manage a voltage output of the solar cell module in response to one of a power demand of the space vehicle or a power level of the battery. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The modular solar cell system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second solar cell module comprising:
 a second module substrate comprising a second high-emissivity side and a second mounting side; 
 a second power management circuit mounted to the second mounting side of the second module substrate and comprising a second communications module; 
 a second battery arranged adjacent to the second power management circuit; 
 a second solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the second battery and comprising a second embedded battery heater; and 
 a second solar cell mounted directly to the second solar cell substrate and connected to the second battery; and 
 
 wherein the space vehicle flight controller is further configured to:
 communicate with the second communications module of the second power management circuit; 
 manage a second voltage output of the second solar cell module in response to one of the power demand of the space vehicle or a second power level of the second battery; and 
 control a total bus voltage of the space vehicle based on management of the first voltage output and the second voltage output.